Getting Infrastructure Built: The Law and Economics of Permitting

Zachary Liscow

Journal of Economic Perspectives, 2025, vol. 39, issue 1, 151-80

Abstract: Given the benefits to economic growth and economic mobility, and the need to transition to green energy, getting infrastructure built is an urgent issue. I first review the evidence on the costs and benefits of the current regime of government approvals for such building: in the US, permitting is slow, infrastructure is expensive, and environmental outcomes are not particularly good. I propose a framework for reform with two dimensions: the power of the executive branch to decide and its capacity to plan. After considering reform possibilities, I propose that reforming both dimensions could lead to a possible "green bargain" that benefits efficiency, the environment, and democracy.

JEL-codes: D61 D72 H54 H76 Q58 R53 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1257/jep.20221347

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